Ebony vs Melissa

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Ebony

Girl #5,579 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"black, dark hardwood"

Origin: Egyptian via Greek

Cultural Roots

African-American American English

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#5,579
Total SSA Count
23
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Eb, Ebbie

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Ebony →

Melissa

Girl #377 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"honey bee"

Origin: Ancient Greek

Cultural Roots

English Greek American Italian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#377
Total SSA Count
825
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Mel, Lissy, Missy

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Melissa →

Popularity Comparison

Ebony Rank #5,579
Melissa Rank #377

Melissa is more popular, ranked #377 vs #5579 for Ebony.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Ebony ___

  • Ebony Rose
  • Ebony Grace
  • Ebony Marie
  • Ebony Nicole
  • Ebony Renee
  • Ebony Joy

Melissa ___

  • Melissa Ann
  • Melissa Marie
  • Melissa Grace
  • Melissa Joy
  • Melissa Kate
  • Melissa Renee

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Ebony

Ivory Diamond Crystal Jade Amber

If you choose Melissa

Jessica Jennifer Michelle Brian Kevin

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ebony or Melissa more popular?

Melissa is more popular, ranked #377 compared to Ebony at #5579 in the United States.

What do Ebony and Melissa mean?

Ebony means "black, dark hardwood" (Egyptian via Greek origin). Melissa means "honey bee" (Ancient Greek origin).

Are Ebony and Melissa boy or girl names?

Ebony is primarily a girl name. Melissa is primarily a girl name.

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← Full profile: Ebony ← Full profile: Melissa Browse all baby names